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Obituary for MONSIGNOR ELIAS KOZAR

Monsignor Elias Kozar, pastor emeritus of St. Mary’s Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Yonkers died on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at the Field Home of the Holy Comforter in Cortlandt Manor, NY. He was 91 years old. Born in Dickson City Pennsylvania on January 19, 1926 to the late Elias and Anna Kozar. He graduated from Dickson City High School, and received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Classics and Literature from the University of Scranton. He pursued his theological studies at the Seminary of The Three Hierarchs in Bridgeport, CT and received his Masters degree in Slavic linguistics from Columbia University. Monsignor Kozar was ordained to the priesthood on February 1, 1948 at St. Nicholas Church in New York City. On January 25, 1948, he married Anna Yanoscik. She survives. Afterhis ordination, he was assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Buffalo, NY where he served for three years. In 1951, he assumed the pastorate of St. Mary’s Carpatho- Russian Orthodox Church in Yonkers where he served until his retirement in 1996. Upon his retirement, he moved to Newburgh, NY where he assisted with the services at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. In 1954, Monsignor Kozar compiled the requirements for the Alpha-Omega Award, the religious award for the Boy Scouts of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic faith. He also served as chairman of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Committee on Scouting. He was a member of the Study and Planning Commission of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops and a member Diocesan Board of Trustees. In 1966, he was appointed dean of the New York Deanery of the Diocese, and in 1972, was elected president of the Westchester Orthodox Clergy Fellowship, of which he was a founding member.Monsignor Kozar was also active in interfaith and community activities in Yonkers. He served as the Orthodox Chaplain at St. John’s Riverside Hospital and Yonkers General Hospital, and assisted in the establishment of the Clergy of Yonkers, an interfaith group.In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons: Paul (Joan) Harwich, Massachusetts, Russell (Kathleen) of Naples, Florida and Rhinebeck, NY and Lawrence (Patricia) of Congers, NY. He is also survived by his grandchildren Matthew Kozar, Sarah (Jason) Thorpe, Michael Kozar, Ryan Kozar, Kelly Kozar and his great granddaughter Emily Thorpe. He was predeceased by his grandson Douglas James Kozar and his brothers John, Daniel, and Michael Kozar, and his sisters Mary VanDurick and Ann Solomon.Monsignor Kozar will lay in state at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 2:00PM to 9:00PM. A Funeral Liturgy will take place on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 11:00AM. Internment Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the Douglas James Kozar Endowment Scholarship c/o The University of Tampa 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, Florida 33606.